Machine for dovetailing lumber.



B. A. LINDBRMAN.

MACHINE ron novBTAILING LUMBBR. APPLIOATION EIL-ED AUG. 22, 1910. RENEWED AUG.2,1912. 1,052,600, Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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MACHINE FOR DOVETAILING LUMER.

APPLIUATION yFILED AUG. 22, 1910. RBNEWBD AUG. 2, 1912.

1,052,600., Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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MACHINE FOR DOVBTAILING LUMBER.

ArPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 22, 1910. RBNBWBD AUG. 2,1912. ,600.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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B. A. IIINDERMAN.

MACHINE PoR .DOVBTAILING LUMBBR. ArPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 22, 1910 RBNBW11D AUG.2,112. v 1,052,600. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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B. A. LINDERMAN. MACHINE FOR DOVETAILING LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2z, 1910. 1111111111111)` AUG. 2,1912.

Patented Feb.11,1913.

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1,052,600, v Patented Feb.11,1913;

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BERT A. LINDERMAN, 0F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

Application led August 22, 1910, Serial No. 578,288. Renewed August 2, 1912.

TotzZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that BERT A. LiNnnuMnN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Muskegon, inthe county of Muskegon and State ot' Michigan, have invented a new and 4useful improvement in Machines for Doveber, and vWithout releasing or dischargingthe pieces to brmg them-together with the dovetails in engagement. The machine differs quite radically from the machines previously used in cutting similar dovetails upon the lumber and then uniting the pieces by threadingl the dovetails together, and is a marked simplification of such previous machines.

The nature of the present invention' is fully disclosed below, and Aivill be understood from the accompanying drawings forming a part of my description and in which drawings- Figures 1 and 1a are elevations of the side of my present machine, and Figs. 2 and Q are plan views of the machine with the presser rolls and their supports omitted, Figs. 1 and 2 showing the receiving end of the machine and Figs. 1a and 2a showing the discharging end thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a partial longitudinal .vertical section of the receiving end of themach'ine. Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section of the receiving end. Figs; (i and 7 are sections on the lines (3 6 and `7--7 lrespectively of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal vertical sec,- tion'of the discharging end. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 8, omittingthe presser rolls. Fig.: 10 is a section on the line 10-.-10of Fig. l. t Fig. 11 is a section onV the lineaY v11-11 ofFig. la. F 12 and '13 arerespective views of two pieces of lumber haring--interfitting dovetails cut on their .edges and adapted to be united by the machine. Fig. 14 is .a transverse section of two pieces of lumber with the dovetail tongues of one part entered in the grooves ofthebther.- Fig. -15 shows end views si two piecesv of lumber Lshowing in full lines the end of one which is first engaged when the lumber isvunited hy the machintl and showing the same end of the other in broken lines. Fig. 1G is a plan ofy Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial N0. 713,003.

the upper eccentric and accompanying supports for the critters, the mandrels of the latter being in section. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the lower eccentric and its surrounding cylinder detached. Fig. 18 is a like view of one of the eccentrics detached.

I employ two endless carriers for carrying the lumber to the cutters for forming the dovetails upon it, and for carrying the lumber into engagement with each other after the dovetails have Ibeen cut. These carriers are 'substantially parallel, being spaced apartat the receiving end to give room to the cutters and converge gradually toward the discharging end so that as they move together in the same direction and at ratented Feb. 11,1913.

the same speed,they are adapted to unite the lumber before discharging it. I show the carriers at 1G and 17 and they are operated by drum 18 on a power shaft .19 at the discharging end of the machine, and in returning to the receiving end they pass under the machine and thence up to and around the drumsQO and Q1 at the receiving end. They consist of carriages of a suitable length and width, united by links Q3, and the drums 1S, Q0 and Q1 are each four sided, each side corresponding in size with the carriages. I do not employ any dogs with these carriages to feed'the stock, but instead rely upon the pressure devices hereinafter described to insure the movement 4of the stock against vthe resistance of the cutters and while being united together.` The drums E20 and 21 are separated from each other as shown at Fig. Q so that a space may be lett between the carriers sutlicient to accommodate the cutters, and they are mounted on axes which are slightly inclined in opposite directions to permit the carriers when moving forward from said drums `to converge and come together at the drum 1S at the discharge end of the machine. W'hen moving from the drums Q0 andll to 'the drum 1S the carriers travel over and are supported upon stationary tracks Q4.

As both pieces of the stock travel in the same direction in the machine it is necessarycross shaft 28. At its upper end this lever is set oil' to the inner side ot the carrier 1G and is pivotally joined to a link 29 which is pivoted between parallel bars 30 sliding on stationary supports 31 and carrying a laterally projecting pusher 32 adjustable along said bars, and movable over the carrier and acting to push the lumber forward upon the carrier until it enters under the presser rolls 33 attached to the bar 34, ar-

ranged longitudinally over the carrier 16.

For the lumber carried by carrier 17 I employ starting devices which are controlled by the starting devices of carrier 16 as fol lows: A vertical lever 40 is pivoted stationarily at its lower end to a depending leg 41 and projects upward into the path of: the

stock passingv over carrier 1G. Said lever is pivot'ally joined to'a link 42 which in turn is pivoted tosliding parallel bars 43 Inoving over supports 44 and carrymg a pusher 45 similar to 32, adapted to engage the stock and move it -forward upon carrier 17 and under presser' rolls of that carrier which are similar to the rolls 33 ot carrier 16, both the carriers being similarly equipped with presser devices throughout their length eX- cept that in one of them `t-he presser rolls at the discharge end may be positively driven as hereinafter explained, and in the other the pressers are deprived of their springs at the discharge end. The lever 4() is actuated in the performance of its function by its contact with the stock being ted by carrier 16 and it is returned to its starting position after cach operation by the weight 4G and cord 47, and its swinging movements are limited or controlled by the sidewise projecting pin 48 projecting from the leg 41. The pushers 32 and described in this paragraph and the preceding one, are employed to insure both certainty and accuracy in positioning the pieces of lumber upon the carriers so that they may arrive at the point where they are united in proper relative order. Obviously iit the lumber was simply laid on the carriers. without being acted on by the pushers it might be slow in aeuuiring the motion ot the carriers and thus to arrive at the junction point at the juopcr time.

The dovetails are cut in the proximate edges et the lumber on the carriers by pairs oit cutters 50, 51, 52 and 53, The cutters are each supported in an individual trame 54, and each trame 54 is adjustably supported by a horizontal screw 5G passing through a sleeve 55 at the top of the trame 54 and supported in arms 5S and 59 and having` nuts 57 at each side of the sleeve, tor positioning the trame sidewise so that it will cause the cutters toi'cut deeper or less deep as occasion requires. The screw itself may also be adjusted in said bearingsand locked by nuts 60, 60. At the bottom the frame 54 is provided with a sleeve (31 which is fitted to and slides upon a stationary round bar G2,

supported at its ends in arms G3 and G4. The arms 58 and 59 supporting the screw 56 are attached to a long cylinder surrounding and forming a bearing for an eccentric 66 having spindles G7 at its ends whereby the eccentric may be turned in eccting adjust-ments. The arms 63 and 64 are attached to a second cylinder 68 surrounding and lforming a bearing for a second eccentric G9 having the same dimensions as eccentric 66 and adapted to act in exact harmony with the latter in giving the taper to the dovetails and in the adjustments. Eccentric 69 is also provided with end spindles 70 similar to the spindles 67 and tor the same purpose. ln order to secure harmony in the action of the two eccentrics, their spindles 67 and 76 are coupled together by bars 71 and cranks 72 the barsA having slots at their meeting ends through which locking bolts 73 may be passed. l

The above described devices are such as are used to support the cutters 50 and 52 for instance7 but the mate cutters 51 and 53 forming the other side ot' the same doveta-ils partially eut by cutters 50 and 52, both being identical in construction, are supported as follows: .Cylinder G5 is also provided with outstanding arms 74 and 75 forming bearings for a screw 7G similar to screw 5G, and passing through a sleeve 77 similar to sleeve 55 on the traine 54 oi2 cutter 51 or nuts 57 and GO being also used. The bot' tom of said trame 54 is also provided with a sleeve 78 sliding on a round ,bar 7S) supported in arms 14()l and 141 projecting from the lower cylinder G8 inclosing eccentric (39. lt will be seen from this that each pair ot the cutters supported wholly from the pair of eccentrics and also that the cutters ot each pair are adapted t'o receive simultaneous vertical movement in opposite directions. To give them this increment l yplace a device 1.42 which l call a rocker under each pair ot cutters. And upon this rocker is arranged a tlat bottomed piece 143v which is integral with cylinder (SS and adapted to permit the rocker to be firmly bolted Ato it. The rocker 142 is thus lirinly secured to the eccentric cylinder 63, and the forward end otjthe rocker rides upon a rotating cam 145 on shaft 2S and thereby the rocker is given a rocking motion which turns the cylinder 68 'on its eccentric and thereby through the arms connecting the cylinder to the frames of cutters 5() and 51 the desired vertical movement is given to the cutters, actuating one frame upward at the same time the other frame is actuated downward. A flat spring 146 is linterposed between the cam 145 and the rocker, and tends t0 maintain 'Contact bet-Ween those parts as well as to A construction like the` take the wear. above is employed. for raising and depressing cutters 52 and 53, the rockerbeing op-v erated by a cam on shaft 10G. It will be understood that when the low part of the cam is moving under the rocker that the.

latter will follow the cam and depress one of the cutters accordingly, and that in order to reverse this action it is only necessary to reverse the cam placing the high point Where the low point was previously. By this construction I am enabled to impart a slow and gradual movement transverse to the line of movement of the stock7 to the cutters, which results in giving a slight'taper extending from endQ to end of the dovetails eut by the cutters. This taper may widen the dovetails, or it may narrow them, desired, but it is always necessary that one pair ofthe cutters shall be so controlled as to cause a narrowing of the dovetails cut by them while the other pair of cutters are controlled so as to cause a widening of the dovetails cut by them. It is also necessary that the dovetails formed upon 011e piece of the stock shall be widest at the end which iirst engages with the other piece, and that the doveta'ils upon the latter shall be narrowest at the end which first engages, and the machine must be so arranged as to thus cut and present the dovetails for engagement. These results are readily secured in the machine shown by changing the cams operatingl the rockers,

The barsv 34 supporting they presser feet 33 of the carriers are'supported by posts 80. The posts are adapted to lpermit the vertical adjustment of the bars to adapt the machine to work different thicknesses ofstock. Tlul bars consist preferably of duplicate sheets of lflat metal arranged in parallel position and united by cross bolts 81 in which the stems Si). of the presser feet have bearings. Springs 83 surround Athe stems and press the feet downward upon the stock so thatthelatt'er is held vwith a yielding pressure which may be increased by 'lowering the bars as will be understood. n

The carriers both move at the same speed, but a stop Sis placed across both carriers' at the discharge end, and acts to arrest the pieces arriving bycarrier 16 until they have become engaged with'the pieces arriving by carrier 17. Owing to the timing ofthe pieces at the start, those on carriers 16 are (see Fig. 9)' as already explained, and cone sequently the pieces on the latter arrive in.

readiness to be engaged with t-he pieces on vcarrier 16 at the same instant practically that the latter are 'arrested by said stop. As the stuff is always brought together with the small end of the dovetails upon one piece in position to enter the wide end of thev dovetails upon the other piece the threading.r of the dovetails togetherv then noeeeds owing to the continuous posif tive feeding of the piece on carrier 17 until the union is completed, the stop holding thc piece on carrier 1G during the operation and until the piece on carrier 17 also reaches the stop, Before the pieces on carrier 16 reach the stop the downward pressure on them is mainly relieved by removing the springs S3 of such of the'pressui'e rolls as may then be bearing upon them (see Fig. 11); at the samey time the presser rolls bearing upon the stuit' in carrier 1T while the dovetails are being united are converted s from idlers to positively driven rolls by providing them with intermeshing pinions 8G and driving the-series of plmons by a sprocket chain STfi-om the sprocket wheel. SS

on shaft S9 (see Figs. 1, 8 and 1'1). These positively driven. presser rolls arel adapt-ed to force the unitedboards pastthe stop and discharge them, the stop being made yielding to permit this, and preferably consisting of a vertical plate 85, pivoted at 91, and a rod 93 extending forward from thc plate and supporting a weight, this construction being best shown at Fig. 8. The weight should be heavy enough. to resist the forward movement of the stuti' on carrier 1G, but not heavy enough to withstand the positively driven pieces on carrier 1T. rl`he earriers do not bring the dovetail stock into complete parallelism. l Iind that it is not necessary that they should do this. 'lhey however, do bring them into nearly parallel positions, and sutticiently so to permit the dovetails to begin their engagement, and as the pieces on carrier 17 are then being positively urged forward, the -dovetails themselves will finish rthe operation of bringing the 'pieces into completely parallel positions by drawing the dovetails together and completing the joint between them. 'when both boards have arrived at the stop,

the longitudinal shaft 105, and shaft 105 carries motion to the two cross shafts 100 and 28 through bevel gears 107, 108, 109 and 110. The intermediate 101 is mounted on a lever 111 adapted to mesh with any of the series of gears 102, and thereby serve to give a different speed to the mechanism giving vertical motion to the cutters and starters, and to permit this gear 100 is made wide so it may mesh with the intermediate in the changed positions.

After the pieces of stockl have moved be- .yond the cutters and had the dovetails formed uponv them, they pass the glue vat 120 located between them and in which are two glue applying wheels adapted to contact with the dovetailed edges. of the stock and be turned thereby. These wheels are shown at 121 in Fig. 10 and each is, provided with a central stem inserted in the tubular bearing122 attached to a lever 123. These levers are each pivoted at their upper ends to projecting ears 124 on the presser supporting bars, and have a spring 125 on a rod 120 passing through a lateral flange 127 on the lever and acting to press the wheel of the lever against the stock upon which it operates.

Two pieces of stock having tapered dovetails formed upon them are shown at Figs. 12 and 13, the piece 130 having the grooves with their large or wide end at X., and the piece 131 having the tongues with their narrow ends at Y. Fig. 14 shows two pieces similar to 130 and 131 being united, the dovetails being partially threaded together, and 132 shows the glue confined in the joint. Fig. 15 shows the ends `ot' two dovetailed pieces of stock.

The eccentrics are adjusted so as to impart a greater or less movement to the cutter frame, by turning them in their bearings which may be done by applying power to the projecting spindles. The action of the flat springs 140 may be regulated by screw 72a bearing thereon and operated by a hand wheel 72" and locked by a nut 72C having operating handles. The cutters are driven by belts from pulleys 133 and 134.

I claim 1. The machii'ie for dovetailing lumber, having two separate carriers moving in the same direction and carrying the piecespast cutters b v which dovetails are formed upon them, said carriers acting to bring the pieces together in position for vthe engagement of the dovetails, and means tor halting lone of the pieces while the other is being forced into engagement with it.

2. The machine for dovetailing llumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction past cutters by which dovetails are formed 'upon the proximate edges of the stock, said. ,carriers converging together and positioning the pieces so that the dovetails start into engagement with each other, and means for halting one of the. pieces while the other continues in motion and thus forces the dovetails to complete their union. y

3. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction and carrying the pieces past cutters by which tapering dovetails are formed upon them, said carriers acting to bring the pieces together in position .for the engagement of the dovetails, and means for halting one ot the pieces while the other is being forced into engagement with it.

4. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction past cutters by which tapern ing dovetails are formed upon the proximate edges of the stock, said carriers converging together and positioning the nieces so thatv and thus forces the dovetails to complete4 their union. 4

5. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction and carrying the pieces past cutters by which dovetails are formed upon them. said carriers acting to bring the pieces together in position for the engagement of the dovetails, and means for start-ing the pieces onv the .carriers so they will arrive at the point where they unite at proper'times. 0. The machineA for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction past cutters by which dovetails are formed upon the proximate edges of the stock, said carriers converging together and positioning the pieces so that the dovetails start into engagement wi-th each other, and means for start-ing the pieces on the carriers so they Will arrive atthe point where they begin to unite at proper relative times.

7. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the the dovetails start into engagement with each l other, and means, for starting the pieces on.

the carriers so they will arrive at the point vwhere they unite at proper times.

. carrier also acting as feeders of the lumber upon it during the uniting operation.

10. The combination with converging carriers and cutters for forming tapering dovetails upon the proximate edges of pieces of lumber carried by the carriers, of means for arresting the pleces on one of the carriers preparatoryv to uniting them to the piece upon the other carrier, said other carrierbeing adapted to force the dovetails of the pieces carried by it intothe dovetails of the arrested pieces. l

l1. The combination with converging carriers and cuttersfor forming tapering dovetails upon the proximate edges of pieces of lumber carried by the carriers, of means for arresting the pieces on one of the carriers preparatory to uniting them to the pieces upon the other carrier, said other carrier being provided with driven presser rolls acting to feed the lumber on said carrier during the uniting operation.

'12. The combination with converging carriers and cutters for forming tapering dovetails upon the proximate edges of pieces of lumber carried by the carriers, non-driven rolls for holding the stock down on the carriers, and means for arrestingthe pieces on one of the carriers, the presser rolls bearing on the arrested pieces being deprived of theirdepressing springs, and the presser rolls bearing upon the pieces being united to the arrested pieces being positively driven acting as feed devices.

13. The combination with cutters for forming tapering dovetails on the proximate edges of pieces of stock, and carriers moving in converging paths past the cutters and acting to carry the dovetailed pieces into engagement with each other, starters for starting the pieces upon said carriers so that those upon one carrier will bein advance of those on the other, and meansfor arresting the pieces ou one carrier, the other carrier being adapted to force the pieces into engagement.

14. The combination with cutters for forming tapering dovetails on the proxi mate edges of pieces of stock, and carriers moving 1n converging paths past the cutters and actmg to carry the dovetailed pieces into engagement with each other,

starters for starting the pieces upon said carriers so that those upon one carrier will be in advance of those on 'the other, and

means for arresting the pieces which are in advance; the -carrier moving the delayed pieces being adapted to force them into engagement' with the arrested pieces., l

15. The machine for' dovetailing ,lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction and carrying the pieces past cutters by which dovetails are formed uponfai them, said carriers acting to bring the pieces together in position for the engagement of the dovetails, means for starting the pieces on the carriers so they will arrive at the point where they unite at proper times, the starting of the pieces on one carrier being cont-rolled .by the pieces on the other carrier.

16. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriers moving in the same direction and carrying the pieces past cutters by which dovetails are formed upon them, said carriers acting to bring the pieces together in position for the engagement of the dovetails, means for starting the pieces on one of the carriers inA advance of. those on the other, and means for starting the pieces on said other carrier at a predeter mined distance behind. v

17. The machine for dovetailing lumber having two separate carriersv moving in the same direction and carrying the pieces past cutters by which dovetails are formed .upon

them, said carriers acting to bring t-he pieces together in position for theengagement of the dovetails, means for starting the pieces on one of the carriers and means for starting the pieces on the other carrier, said last mentioned means being controlled by the first mentioned means.

18. The combination with the cutters andA their supports, of the eccentrics on which the supports are pivoted, and the rocker and its actuating cam for moving the supports up or down. v

19. The combination with the cutters and the supports in which they are carried, of an eccentric on which the supports are pivoted, and means essentially as set forth for operating said supports to raise or lower the cutters.u

20. The combination with dovetail cutters supported on rocking' devices at oppo- ,site sides of the axis of said devices, a rotating cam, and rocker for actuating the cutters receiving its motion from the cam.

` 21. The dovetail cutters mounted on arms projecting in opposite directions from rocking cylinders, in combination with said cyl- Witnesses MINNIE D. SILLEY,

J oHNh Q. Ross. 

